The Acceptance of Fate

Marcus Aelius Aurelius Verus Caesar was born on the 26th of April 121.

His stoic tome Meditations, was written in Greek, while on campaign, between 170 and 180.

It is still revered as a literary monument, to a philosophy of service and duty; describing how to find and preserve equanimity, in the midst of conflict, by following nature as a source of guidance and inspiration.

He is regarded as the last of "the five good emperors", a phrase coined by the political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli in 1503.

"From the study of this history we may also learn how a good government is to be established; for while all the emperors who succeeded to the throne by birth, except Titus, were bad, all were good who succeeded by adoption, as in the case of the five from Nerva to Marcus.

But as soon as the empire fell once more to the heirs by birth, its ruin recommenced"...